Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-08
Dentistry and Anmsthetics.
AUGUSTA, Sept. !, 1887.

hUIUslA, ctpt' L. 1901.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Allow me to correct an erroneous impress
sion which has got abroad in regard to the
capabilities of dentists to administer an8s-
thetics. In your paper of Thursday, Sept
LIST, in commenting upon the death of q man
in dentists chair, from the administration
of chloroform, you say "Such deaths are
becoming quite frequent, and reflect some
what upon the ability of dentists, unassisted,
to use snesthetics."
The public, as we'll as you, Mr.. Editor, has
got the idea that dentists cannot, or ought not
to administer anasthetics, particularly ether
or chloroform, without the assistance of
physician. Now, from careful observa-
ton for a number of years, your CORE
spondent has noticed that in large maj GRITTY
of cases where deaths have occurred from
such administration, there has been physi-
clan present Does the presence of physi-
clan, skilled and learned though he be, insure
one against death in the use of these anaes-
thetics No. The danger is largely in the
kind of snsesthetics used. You will notice,
if one has observed these things at all, that in
almost every instance where death has been
reported from this cause the ana sthetic ad-
ministered, was choroform. To emphasize
this fact, let me illustrate. The relative pro-
portion of deaths from the use of the different
ar a sthetics is as follows: One death in about
G, 900 administrations of chloroform, one in
% 600 of ether, and one in 100, 900 of nitrous
oxide gas. 1t will be seen that chloIoform
leads the van in its danger as an aresthetic.
Then again. the most competent physician
cannot always tell the physical or mental
animation, which is in majority of cases
deemed unnecessary.
Now. the educated dentist (and there are
few in the profession now s-iays but what
are educated) is just as competent, | claim.
10 administer the different anestheues as is
the physician; ard perhaps more so, as he
must of necessity give it oftener than does
the ply sician Theory is a good thing. but
practice is better. The dentist learns from
its frequent use to know its power and it's
danger: he learns his patients characteristics
and temperament. and knows how much. or
how little they will bear. And so he Yields
this power with a practiced hand, feeling
confidence in his ability and skill to carry
the patient through, in spite of any emergen-
CIV which may arise. And yet he prefers to
have a physician present, not because he does
not know how to give it,or what to do in case
of danger, but because it removes the re-
sponsibility from his own shoulders to those
of the physician and, as there Is no absolute
safety in giving any kind of anesthetic, he
thinks the physicians reputation would suffer
less in the public's estimation than would his
own.
The dentist of to-day it not the dentist of
twenty five years ago. Dentistry itself has been
recognized by medical colleges and societies
as specially of medicine. A great many
of our dentists are graduates of medical col
leges as well as OF dental schools. Our
| colleges are numerous and dental literature
abundant, and the prscticing dentist has no
excuse to be behind the times in matters
medical or dental. DENTIST.